Field Notes: Knauss and RFMOs in La Jolla

Read below for Andy's lessons and impressions from the one and only Kobe III meeting in La Jolla a few weeks ago...

Tuna, credit: NOAA

 "As I mentioned in my Knauss fellow profile, I did not have extensive exposure to the current depth or breadth of fisheries issues prior to this year.  Many of the issues that I have learned about so far pertain to tuna management (e.g. the listing of Bluefin tuna).  Over 50 species of tuna along with other highly migratory species such as sailfish, billfish, and some sharks are internationally managed by 5 Regional Management Fishing Organizations (RFMOs):  Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).  In 2007, a delegation from each of the 5 RFMOs came together in Kobe, Japan, to promote and enhance coordination and communication between the RFMOs.  The meeting was creatively called Kobe I, and this body has convened two additional meetings – one in San Sebastian, Spain, (2009), and one in La Jolla, CA, (2011).  The Kobe group is not a decision-making body, but makes recommendations that are (hopefully) sent to the 5 RFMOs for implementation.  Because of my newly-found interest in tuna fishery issues, I felt lucky to be a member of the U.S. delegation at the Kobe III meeting in La Jolla a few weeks ago.

Before the first day of the Kobe III meeting, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation organized a side panel with invited speakers who presented information on rights-based management tools such as the oft mentioned and debated “catch shares” (read here and here for contrasting depictions).  Also on Monday, the Bycatch Joint Technical Working Group met behind closed doors to develop a report on dealing with a variety of bycatch issues slated for inclusion in the Kobe III recommendations.  This year, the U.S. delegation was composed of approximately 40 individuals from NOAA, Department of State, Coast Guard, and various U.S. commissioners who represented commercial and scientific research interests.  Henry Debey, a current Knausser with Fisheries International Affairs, was also among the delegation.  Eric Schwaab, the NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator, was the head U.S. participant, and Russell Smith was elected as chairman by the meeting delegates. 

Billfish, credit: NOAA

The majority of the meeting agenda centered around three topic areas:  science, management, and compliance and enforcement.  Under these topics, meeting delegates had the chance to voice their thoughts, opinions, and concerns about priority issues such as data sharing between RFMOs, capacity within RFMOs, port state measures, and data harmonization in designating Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing vessels.  In the evenings when the meeting was not in session, member countries sent representatives to drafting sessions where the Kobe recommendations were being created and discussed. 

Sailfish, credit: NOAA

Finally, on the last day, the draft list of twelve recommendations was brought before the meeting participants to be discussed and agreed upon.  One recommendation called for the RFMO secretariats to develop data confidentiality rules and a protocol for data sharing.  Other recommendations specified that fishing capacity should be better understood by the RFMOs and that developed nations should freeze large scale purse seine capacity under their flag (but not longlining).  The RFMO secretariats should coordinate with the U.N. FAO to develop a global list of fishing vessels, refrigerated transport vessels, and supply vessels.  Also, RFMOs should also harmonize data reporting requirements for purposes of assessing compliance.  The final recommendation, which the U.S. proposed, called for RFMOs, developed states, and non-governmental organizations to accelerate capacity-building efforts in developing states to enhance port state measures and catch documentation schemes. 

The last action of the participants was to come to an agreement on the future of the Kobe process.  It was decided that a steering committee comprised of RFMO chairs should regularly report on the progress of the enactment of the Kobe recommendations to the RFMOs, with the next meeting proposed for at least three years from now.  This meeting was not structured like the usual scientific conferences that I have attended in graduate school.  Rather, it was a very formal setting steeped in politics (although not nearly as contentious as the International Whaling Commission).  Members of the Forum Fisheries Agency, (17 Pacific Islands nations) were very organized in the deliberations, coordinating their responses and stances on issues.  I also observed solidarity between the developing Latin America countries.  In the end, when asked about the successes of the meeting, veteran U.S. delegates agreed that successes hinged on the practical implementation of the recommendations. 

Sunfish, credit: NOAA

After the meeting, I stayed a couple of extra days to explore the La Jolla.  I talked with Jeff Seminoff, one of the lead sea turtle researchers at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, about his group’s involvement in the recent study investigating the movement patterns of marine apex predators.  His group found that leatherback sea turtles nest in Papua New Guinea and then swim the width of the Pacific Ocean to feed on jellyfish off the western coast of the U.S.  I also went on a great whale watching tour and saw four or five blue whales, including a mother and calf.  A sunfish, or mola mola, was also spotted sunning at the water’s surface.  To end the trip, I visited the Birch aquarium, which had an interesting seahorse display and is involved in seahorse aquaculture.  In fact, the seahorses produced at Birch are given to other aquariums in an effort to lessen collecting pressures on threatened wild populations.

Kobe III was a fascinating experience.  Presentations are available if you are interested."

Thanks to Andy for his great travel experience story!  Check back for more exciting Knauss adventures and lessons.